According to Virginia exit polls, Obama won almost 60 percent of the female Democratic vote.

(CNN) - Barack Obama did well with Democrats across both race and gender lines Tuesday night, and seems to be eating away at Hillary Clinton's backbone of support: women.

According to exit polls out of both Virginia and Maryland, in both states Obama won roughly 60 percent of the female vote - a demographic that has carried Clinton to success in past primaries.

Clinton fared even worse among men – more than two-thirds in both states chose Obama.

Meanwhile, the Illinois senator scored his highest percentage of African-American support to date - winning close to 90 percent of that voting bloc in each state. And the two evenly split the white vote in Virginia, while Clinton slightly beat Obama among the white vote in Maryland. In most past primaries, Clinton has held an edge among white voters.

Obama even beat Clinton among Latino voters, a group that has heavily favored Clinton in most past primaries. In Virginia and Maryland, Latinos went for Obama over Clinton by 6 points, though their support was not decisive in either contest – only 5 percent of Democratic primary voters in Virginia, and 4 percent in Maryland, were Latino.

The only demographic Clinton won was white women, who broke for her over Obama by 10 points in Virginia and 13 points in Maryland. But that margin is significantly smaller than the national average on Super Tuesday. She beat Obama among white women by 25 points then, according to national exit polls.

soundoff(467 Responses)

louisfatty

With all the closed/open primaries, the resulting conspiracy crossover voting, Super Delegates, together with the obvious race and gender issues, this election is turning out to be more controversial and better than this year's college football Bowl Championship Series and all the American Idols put together! Wild Wacky Stuff! A crazy and maniacal soap opera! I generally hate the two-party system, but this year is awesome! Maybe we can see Congress have to break an Electoral College tie this year! Please baby, please baby, please....

Signed,
The Stirrer of the Pot

February 12, 2008 09:40 pm at 9:40 pm |

Doug

For those who are worried about the substance in Obama's positions you have a point. John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich were the ones with substance on the issues. But the press and the populace wanted the story to be Barack and Hillary. Now that it is between these two it has to be Obama. We haven't just been through seven years of the worst president in American history, we've also been through seven years of the worst opposition party in American history. The Democrats have been lousy and Hillary is the rightful heir to that onus. (Tonight they went along with increased surveilance on Americans). Obama is not ideal and we shouldn't be blind about his shortcomings. But the Democrats are finally going to run an anti-war candidate. They should have done it four years ago.

February 12, 2008 09:40 pm at 9:40 pm |

Tony

One thing that I'm really noticing about you hard core Hillary supporters.. you REALLY like to throw race into this when Barack's side tends to talk about Unity. Its really depressing and almost as bad as conservatives.. I mean really, stop and read what you are typing here.

Who CARES what race or gender is voting for who??? The people want change, find it in your hearts to be colorblind and maybe you will find change within yourselves.

February 12, 2008 09:40 pm at 9:40 pm |

Undecided

FELIPE and other HEALTH CARE VOTERS:

February 12, 2008 09:40 pm at 9:40 pm |

jimmy

too many people are voting for Obama but have no idea where he stands. don't just go with the flow; that does not represent change!

February 12, 2008 09:41 pm at 9:41 pm |

JavierNY

Has anyone doen their studying here? Barack Obama does to a racist church, check the website out. I can't provide the link as cnn.com will reject my Blog once again.

Texas please bring us back home! American make the right choice, do pick someone who has almost no political expereince compared to somen with vast experience.

Obama is all talk and he refuses to accpet debate invitations. We need to bring thios country back and Clinton is they way.

February 12, 2008 09:41 pm at 9:41 pm |

Nicole

Black voters are voting based on race? And just who have we voted for in every other Presidential election - since we were actually allowed to vote without being targeted for beating, murder?

February 12, 2008 09:41 pm at 9:41 pm |

Robert

It's way too obvious citizens (woman and men, black and white, poor and wealthy, AND young and old) are rallying behind Obama. That is what it takes to win a nomination and unite a nation that is divided.

It was so annoying when CNN kept explaining Obama's win in South Carolina on the "black" vote, as if we can't think for ourselves. WELL how do you explain his wins across this entire nation (which African-Americans only make up 12% of the total population and only half of those vote). Do the math. It's time for CHANGE.

OBAMA 08!!!

February 12, 2008 09:41 pm at 9:41 pm |

Bob

What's this talk of "stealing"? It wasn't 'owned" or "owed", there is no "stealing".

Barack Obama inspires hope, change and the future. It's a great thing learning about Barack Obama; his history, his experiences, his stance on issues – and guess what – you then become enlightened and you support Barack Obama.

February 12, 2008 09:41 pm at 9:41 pm |

Big E

I am so proud to be part of this democratic party! Obama and Hillary....we can't go wrong!!
I think a woman in the highest office would be a much greater change than another man regardless of his skin-color. I like both.....but I do think Hillary has been unfairly torn apart by the media whereas Obama has enjoyed this rock-star treatment.
He is admittedly an amazing speaker...but Hillary has amazing substance, experience and shouldn't be as unlikable as many make her out to be.
I'm disappointed she's not doing better. I really wish she'd succeed!
Having said that I will definitely support Obama should he get the nomination.(they are very similar on the issues) I'm fair and proud of this party!! They are both brillliant candidates!

February 12, 2008 09:41 pm at 9:41 pm |

Kevin

Thank the lord that a new future is coming after the 8 year tyranny of king george, filling his friends pockets with money....money tinged with the blood of our fathers...sisters...brothers...mothers in Iraq. I doubt he sleeps well at night.

February 12, 2008 09:42 pm at 9:42 pm |

George from Minneapolis

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA..

nothing else needs to be said.

although i will add.. perhaps president obama can make hillary clinton the secretary of health in his administration.

February 12, 2008 09:42 pm at 9:42 pm |

bc

i'm happy that obama is getting an equal share of the white vote,it shows that people are looking at the candidates as equals. i'm most disturbed by the huge ratio of black voters for obama. it appears that they are the group that can't see past race in the campaign. the polls show that many (not all) are simply voting color.

February 12, 2008 09:42 pm at 9:42 pm |

Roberta

Did you notice they are not showing the race (black,white and the rest) in the exit polls? yes he got ALL THE BLACK VOTES!
But he will not get my white vote!!!!
I thought they (blacks didn't like racist people!
Hillary can't sat anything about race as he does.)
The media is setting him up for the kill in NOVEMBER!

February 12, 2008 09:42 pm at 9:42 pm |

maria

You are all so naive if you think that Obama is going to be able to beat the republicans. If you haven't noticed the republicans have been beating up Hillary for months. If Obama wins, when the republicans turn their focus on him they are going to rip him to shreds. The republicans are not going to stop pressuring him when Obama tries to spin his racism wheels (like he did with Hillary). The republicans know they will never get the black vote so they will go after him full force and his cries of racism will not deter them one bit. Look at the 19 states he has won (14 of them were caucuses) far less voters. Obama is carrying young voters and black voters this is his base and the republicans will never get these votes so what vote is Obama taking away from Mccain. None. 60 + voters , latinos will vote for Mccain over Obama. I would love one day to be proud of the way the people in our country voted. Last two times it was the guy you would most likely like to have a beer with and now it's the man that can deliver a good speech or I should say the same speech over and over and over again. Maybe I'll be proud in the 2012 election.

February 12, 2008 09:43 pm at 9:43 pm |

Hate Obama

Obama is all talk, no actions. NO YOU CANT!!!

February 12, 2008 09:43 pm at 9:43 pm |

linda coughlin

you at CNN are inflating the demographics in women voting for Hillary and losing her base. Many black women are voting for Hillary not her base!!!!!!!!! last week, the states di dnot make up as many blacks as this week.
Also in stating that she is using Guilani's stratgy in going for th big states, how can you mislead people, she has been in this all along and done all the states.

she is being fiscally conscious as any CEOwould be, in making a big play for BIG results. If as a business person you have X dollars to spend to get X result< where would one be most likley and spend most responsibly?????

use your heads and stop spinning for Obama. Coulter is right, if he were pereceived as half white he would not be doing nearly as well!

Go Hillary

February 12, 2008 09:43 pm at 9:43 pm |

Undecided

FELIPE and other HEALTH CARE VOTERS:

Take a look at independent analyses wherever you can. There's a virtual consensus on the comparison between the two plans: they will both leave out around 12 million currently uninsured. Contra the CW, Hillary has so far hid behind the cloak of rhetoric, calling it universal doesn't make it so.

Further, I don't understand why she gets such good faith when it comes to health care, when her task forces secrecy and arrogance, and her insistance on a mandate set the entire cause of universal health care back 15 years and counting. Her job was to make sure we had a universal plan in 1993.

February 12, 2008 09:44 pm at 9:44 pm |

US Navy Vietnam Vet

To Senator Obama supporters.........please think of this:

I feel that the voters who look to Senator Obama for change are totally mislead....down the yellow brick road. He is a very good politician. I will give you an example: his healthcare proposal is with no change from what we have right now. We have millions with no insurance and we will continue to have millions with no insurance.

Too bad the voters over the weekend and today bought the hook, line, and sinker............Senator Obama does not represent change! He represents the same ol – same ol stuff with a different spin. It is how he got some of the Kennedys and Kerry.

Wake up America – Senator Obama sings a good line but he cannot deliver! We need Hillary Clinton for the White House! Not a pipe dreamer!

I would love to hear how Senator Obama's healthcare plan is different than what we now have here in the US. I have read his proposal on his site. Still shows millions uninsured and on the taxpayers dime. That is NOT CHANGE – it is more of the same with candy coated words.

Go with a leader who has proven time and time again to be strong, intelligent, and can beat the Republicans for the Democratic Party and all of us.

February 12, 2008 09:44 pm at 9:44 pm |

Gary

To those Hillary supporters injecting race still in this Shame on you!!
Time for the Billary to pack up.
Winning Eight elections in space of 4 days is not "a few wins" as some Hillary supporters are saying now for Obama. He will win next two this month also making it 10 total unanswered wins for Obama before the big day on March 4th. No way she can catch up with his BIG MO now !!!
And it is time for Edawrds to openly support Obama. What is he waiting for??

February 12, 2008 09:44 pm at 9:44 pm |

TIMBOK

BTW : If Obama expects to be the next JFK,hes gonna be shot in about 3 years into his first and hopefully final term in office.
History repeats it self,especially with Democrats in charge.

February 12, 2008 09:45 pm at 9:45 pm |

brian

CNN and other media should be credited more for Obama's wins and since voters are like herds and being fed with biased news, a bit of cross voting,i.e. Afro Americans and Ultra Right Clinton haters forming the core, with highly rheotic polished scripts, the fake momentum will be there. See what will happen to that. Texans cannot be be faked.

February 12, 2008 09:45 pm at 9:45 pm |

JC

How can people claim Hillary has the experience to hit the ground running if (IF) she gets pres. Last time I checked, she has NO experience as a president. So that makes them both kinda even ;)

Also, don't be fooled TEXANS. Hillary said that wins in states that do not vote democrat do not "matter to her". So she's trying to say your vote does not matter? I'm voteing for someone who appreciates my vote.

TEXANS FOR OBAMA!

February 12, 2008 09:45 pm at 9:45 pm |

CA boomer for CHANGE

BECKY NORTON.... I am a 55 yr old woman, caucasian and a liberal. Before you give up on the possible Dem nominee, Barack Obama, and vote for Mr. McCain (Pro-life, a WIN in Iraq w/100 yr occupation, more Supreme Court judges like Scalia, Roberts & Alito...etc...), check out Barack's website for the information you may be looking for. If you are concerned about the "issues," his positions are carefully spelled out. Don't be a "Hope-Hater" ......... after 8 excrutiating years of the Carl Rove politics of FEAR, HOPE is what we need!!

February 12, 2008 09:45 pm at 9:45 pm |

watchout

WAKE UP PEOPLE,,,,,,,,he is not Martin Luther King,,,,,,,,,are you people out ther afraid of a female president........why dont you check out what she has done for this county and compare it with Osama Bin Laden,,,,,the mulims are financially supporting him,,,,,,,,,,,Wake the hell up,,,,,,,,if i promise you the moon and stars will you vote for me....................!!!!!!!